Dark Souls - Sanctuary Guardian boss strategy

Sanctuary Guardian is a boss at the start of the Artorias of the Abyss DLC in Dark Souls.

If you're looking for more help, our Dark Souls walkthrough and guide can help with all other areas of the game, including the dreaded Taurus Demon, Capra Demon, Ornstein and Smough bosses.

Sanctuary Guardian boss strategy

Sanctuary Guardian is one of the most aggressive boss fights in the game, and you will have to equip yourself with some decent poise armour and a high stability shield to block it's relentless assaults. Also, you may want to equip yourself with a weapon that can hit quickly, so you will be able to duck in and out in order to defeat this boss. If you have a heavy greatsword, you might find this boss a little tricky, simply because of how fast it hits.

Next, we will all about the arena that you fight this boss in, running into the water ahead will really limit your options, as well as hamper your movement, so ensure that you fight this boss on the areas to the edge, where you will be able to effectively dodge, or else you might be in a world of trouble. We also recommend that you bring along a shield like the Grass Crest Shield to ensure that you keep your stamina regeneration up.

To the Sanctuary Guardian's attacks itself. The first thing that you should be made aware of is this monster's ranged capabilities. The Sanctuary Guardian uses charged up electricity attacks in two ways.

The first of which is a long range flurry of four charged electricity blasts, which you can easily evade by moving horizontally. The second is a single blast from the ground, which it uses when you are nearer to it, there is also a clone of this attack that it uses whilst airborne.

Next, is another deadly attack that you will often face- a shockwave that the boss charges up to knock you off balance. When it does this, it will follow up with a headbutt and other melee attacks. The melee attack that you should be most aware of is the flurry of swipes, which can again deplete your stamina quickly.

The boss also has a further flying attack that will be followed up by melee attacks, so be sure to defend.

If you're looking for more help, our Dark Souls walkthrough and guide can help with all other areas of the game, including the dreaded Taurus Demon, Capra Demon, Ornstein and Smough bosses. Meanwhile, we have explainers on how to access DLC Artorias of the Abyss, the best gift and best class in Dark Souls, Dark Souls' best weapons, Dark Souls Covenants, Dark Souls Estus Flasks locations, Dark Souls Titanite Slab locations and NPC quests including Lautrec of Carim.

The Sanctuary Guardian also has a strategy for if you want to go behind it to attack. Its hind legs will kick you back if you attempt to attack it from behind, and it also has an addition poison tail-swipe which it will inflict upon you if you're not careful.

If you want an extra weapon, aim for the Sanctuary Guardian's Tail in order to cut it off and get the Sanctuary Tail, but don't worry if you miss it, as you will be able to take on Two Sanctuary Guardians at once after you kill Artorias.

Again, this is an incredible aggressive enemy, and although it might not have as much health as other bosses like the Lord Souls, getting a hit on the Sanctuary Guardian is difficult, and we would recommend that you should hang to the side of its body in order to get the most hits in at a safe-zone.

If you are wanting to heal during this fight, ensure that you create some distance before you proceed, as you will quickly find yourself getting attacked by the Sanctuary Guardian's ranged electrical moves.

Also, as a last tip - just remember to keep your stamina up. This is probably one of the most important fights where you need to manage your stamina, so be sure to keep an eye on it throughout.

Once you're done, it's time to continue to Royal Wood.